Roll-film-developing apparatus.



R. KROEDEL.

ROLL F|L`M DEVELOPING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION man Nov.22. 19u.

Patent-@ 1 Mam/1,1918.

Ni 2| ai IN VEN TO e zI/UNESSES:

A TTORNEYS.-

UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEroE.

ROBERT KROEDEL, or ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, AssIGNoR, To EAsTivrAlvrkonAK OOM- PANY, or ROCHESTER, NEWYORK, A CORPORATION OFNEW YORK.`

ROLL-FILMeDEVELOPNG APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

`flatented May 14, 1918.

Application led November 22, 1917. Serial No. 203,305.V

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known. that/I, ROBERT KROEDEL, of Rochester, inthe county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Roll-F ihn- Developing Apparatus; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and to the reference-numerals.marked thereon.

My present invention relatesto photography and more particularly to apparatus for the daylight developmenty of rolly film and the invention has for its obj ect to provide a simple, light and convenient device suitable for use by amateurs that will quickly and safely spread the film for eX- posure to the developing fluid. To these and other ends the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations of parts all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a film developing apparatus constructed in accordance with and illustrating one embodiment of my invention; v

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the tank portion alone;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the cover detached and inverted;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view through the assembled device showing the initial positions during its Operation, intermediate portions of the cover and tank being broken away;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section, also broken away at an intermediate point, showinO' the final positions of the parts, and

iig. 6 is a transverse section taken sub-.

stantially on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5.

Similar reference numerals throughout the several views indicate the same parts.

The apparatus of my invention is particularly adapted 'for the development of the smaller sizes of lm cartridges which are so narrow as to be held fiat without difficulty and which are not of great length. The device comprises generally an elongated tank l and a sliding cover 2 therefor which slides longitudinally of the tank and covers the top thereof. The tank is of a length approximating that ofithefilm stripl for the development of which it isfintended audits width is also approximately that of the strip, theA tankl being'` preferably i rectangular. Its upper sidefedges are hanged outwardly at 3 `to beembraced by inwardly turned flanges 4 in the cover that form light-tight slots or runways. One end of the tank h-as a rolled edge 5 ,and beneath it impaling spurs 6 .on-the. exterior` of the end wall. Thefadjacent end of the coveriis provided with anapron and hand hold 7 that overhangs these devices and conceals and protects them. On the insidel of the tank at the same end is a transverse bar 8 elevated slightly from the bottom of the tank.

The inner or advance end of the cover 2 is provided with a depending roll holding box 9 having four side walls but open at its bottom which opening is presented toward the bottom of the tank inv slightly spaced relation thereto.

In use, the leader 10 at the outer or free end of the film roll 11 is unwound slightly and impaled upon the spurs 6 as shown in Fig. 4. It is drawn over the rolled edge 5 of the tank after having been passed beneath the bar 8, the roll itself resting in the tank adjacent to the bar. The cover is now applied in such manner that the box 9 iits over the roll but not so tightly but what the latter will be free to turn, as shown in Fig. 4. The cover is then engaged with the flanges 3 and shoved into closed position. The advancing end traverses the length of the tank and carries the roll with it through the medium of the box 9 so that the lilm is unrolled and spread, sensitive side up, upon the bottom of the tank as shown in Fig. 5. The developing agent can be poured into the tank at any time, preferably at the point in the process illustrated in Fig. 4 after the cover has been applied but not closed. After the film is spread the tank may be rocked to flow the developer back and forth as usual. The emulsion side of the film being uppermost at all points, there is no opportunity for bubbles to collect.

After the development is completed, I prefer to remove the film (Fig. 5) by disengaging the lead end 10 from the prongs 6 and pinching this end against the end of the cover while withdrawing the latter from the closed position to a position corresponding to that of Fig. 4. This draws the lm strip from the container coincidently with the act of opening the same and in the open position, the cover may be liftedoil' to release the spool.

At any time during the treatment of the film the baths ordinarily used, that is, developer, water and iXing agent may be interchanged and poured in and out by slightly withdrawing the cover from the position of Fig. 5, the adjacent wall of the roll holding box 9 acting as a light guard. For instance, between the developing and Xing treatments, water may be introduced to wash out the developing solution.

The anges 3 on the tank terminate short of the end thereofl at which the impaling devices are located so that the cover maybe brought down over the lm roll as in Fig. i and then engaged with the iianges.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a film developing apparatus, the combination with an elongated tank, of a cover for the latter having a sliding engagement longitudinally of the tank and means on the cover for unrolling a iilm roll contained in the tank as the cover is closed.

2. 1 In a iilln developing apparatus, the combination with an elongated tank, of a cover having a sliding engagement with the tank longitudinally thereof and a roll film holder carried beneath the advance end of the cover.

3. In a ilm developing apparatus, the combination with an elongated tank, of a cover having a sliding engagement with the 1 tank longitudinally thereof, a roll holding box carried beneath the advance end of the cover and means on an end wall of the tank for fastening the free end of a film roll contained within the boX.

ROBERT KROEDEL. Witnesses:

HELEN M.v FRASER, MARGARET DUIGNAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

